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Palestinian Women as Suicide BombersIDF Spokesperson |
November 10, 2004 |
Since the beginning of the Intifada, the phenomenon of using women as suicide bombers and executing terrorist attacks has grown. The terrorist groups, the ones who implement the attacks search to exploit the embodied advantages of the participation of women in order to carry out terrorist attacks mainly within the Green Line. This is the supposition that women are seen as tender, delicate and innocent, and as such stimulates less suspicion than a man. In all the incidents which women have been involved in terrorist attacks there has been a need for camouflage, enabling them to be assimilated in Israeli streets. Female terrorists attempt to present themselves as Westerners by wearing non-conservative dress such as short skirts, maternity dress and modern haircuts. As of today, 8 women have carried out suicide terrorist attacks against Israeli targets. As a result of these suicide terrorist attacks 39 Israelis have been killed and approximately 300 maimed. Since September 2000, more than 50 women have been arrested by security forces who were to carry out suicide terrorist attacks or aid in their execution. In October 2004 only, 14 women have been arrested ready to perpetuate a suicide terrorist attack. Palestinian Women Involved in Terrorist Activities In most cases, these women represent two spectrums of Palestinian Arab society. Among them are literate women, with professions as well as young and popular and non popular women who lack higher education and a profession. The participation of women involved in terror activities is divided into different levels. The highlight of this phenomenon of female suicide bombers and those who execute suicide bombings is that their actions have been thwarted before they managed to carry out their attacks. Additionally, women have been used for terror activities such as in planning and implementing the attacks. The phenomenon of Palestinian Arab women involved in terror activities has existed for many years. One need only look into the past. One prominent example was an active senior terrorist in the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, Ataf Alian, who planned to execute a suicide bombing by detonating a car bomb in Jerusalem in 1987. Ataf Ailan was imprisoned in Israel for 10 years and was released in 1997. Another prominent example is Lyla Chalad, a senior terrorist of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who was involved in the high jacking of an Israeli airplane in 1969. Below are a number of examples of Palestinian Arab women suicide bombers and women involved in terrorist activities:
Vafaa Idris, resident of the Alamari refugee camp in Ramallah, worked in the 'Red Moon' organization. Vafaa Idris, worked as a nurse. Three of her brothers belong to the Fatah terrorist organization, the oldest was even detained by Israel. The terrorist attack was carried out by a terrorist of the Tanzim terrorist organization from Ramallah.
Iat Alacharas, was an 18 year old girl from the Dahaisha refugee camp near Beit Lechem. The Tanzim terrorist organization linked with the Fatah terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack. Iat Alacharas carried the explosive device that was prepared in a black female purse. Avrahim Sarachana and his brother Mosa Sarachana lead Iat to the designated place of the attack. The two of them lead Iat in a red van adjacent to the supermarket in the neighborhood of Kiryat Yovel in Jerusalem. Before the terrorist attack, Moussa approached with two elderly Arabs who sold him a vegetable and warned them before the attack was to take place. Before her departure to execute the terrorist attack, Iat was photographed by a video camera, wrote an article of allegiance, and then separated from her family.
Andaliv Takataka, 21 was a Tanzim terrorist from Bethlehem. The terrorist attack was prepared by Muataz Hymoni, a terrorist from the Popular Front for the Liberation Palestine in Hevron who was arrested in the Defensive Shield Operation. Marwan Zalum,a senior terrorist from Hevron prepared the explosive device and was killed as a result from an initiated activity by security forces. The explosive device was made of three plastic pipes and a battery and was concealed in a female purse for disguise. On day of the terrorist attack, Andaliv was transported to Abu Dis and from there traveled in a taxi to Jerusalem and arrived at the Mahane Yehuda market. There she exploded near an Egged bus. A number of days before implementation of the terrorist attack Andaliv was photographed by a video camera dressed in black with a Koran in her hand.
Darin Abu Issa, was a resident of Beit Vazan in Samaria. Darin arrived to the Maccabim checkpoint driving east to west in the vehicle with two Tanzim terrorists. The two of them were asked to present their identity cards. When Diran was asked for her identification she instead blew herself up. Darin was killed. Two of the men that were in the vehicle were shot at and severely wounded. Two Israeli policemen were lightly wounded. Before carrying out the terrorist attack, Darin was photographed holding a sharp knife. The Tanzim terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack.
Haba Azam Dra'ama, a single student, suicide bomber of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization blew herself up at the Amakim mall in Afula on 19.5.2003. The terrorist attack killed 3 civilians and wounded 50 others. Motivation of the terrorist attack: Haba Azam Dra'ama was a religious student and single from Tovas, who executed a suicide terrorist attack as revenge for her brother's death.
Hanadi Jaradat, 29, a lawyer and suicide bomber of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in Jenin blew herself up at the Maxim restaurant in Haifa on 4.10.03 killing 21 civilians and wounding 48 others. Hanadi Jaradat, 29 single and a lawyer had romantic intimate relations with her fiance before marriage which is considered unusual amongst the Palestinian Arab community.
Rim Tzalach Riashi had a personal and close connection with the Hamas terrorist organization.
Achlam Tmimi, 20 of Jordanian origin, who resided in Ramallah in 1998, was a student and reporter. Besides her participation as a suicide bomber, she also dealt in collecting intelligence for a future terrorist attack. In her investigation, she told that she carried with her a camera and talked with the terrorist in English, who carried a guitar case in order to disguise herself as a tourist. By the same token, she was also responsible for placing an explosive device which was disguised in a beer can in a supermarket in Jerusalem on June 30, 2001. Achlam was drafted to the Hamas terrorist organization in June 2001. In her investigation, she confessed that she committed herself of being ' liable to die as a martyr'.
Kahira Sa'adi, 26 married and mother of four, resident of Al-Ram confessed in her investigation that she brought to Jerusalem the suicide bomber who executed the terrorist attack. Kahira mentioned in her investigation that Abad Al Karim Avis, one of the senior terrorists of the Fatah terrorist organization who was arrested in the Jenin refugee camp became acquainted with Kahira, and requested from her to exploit her western looks and smuggle a suicide bomber into Jerusalem. She also confessed that after the terrorist attack on King George Street, she agreed to transfer another suicide bomber into Jerusalem with a larger explosive belt.
Sana also said in her investigation that she was a friend and supporter of Neazar Shavish, a senior terrorist of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in Jenin. Shavish was arrested by security forces and was contacted in order to help in the smuggling of a terrorist into Jerusalem. She also confessed that at a checkpoint to the entrance of the city she bought flowers, holding them in order to be assimilated better among those crossing, as it was Mother's Day the day of the attack. She also said in her investigation that before she entered the city with Shavish, Shavish stepped back at a distance of 50 meters from Kahira Saidi and the suicide bomber because she wore an Arab traditional garment and did not want to stir any suspicion.
Daah Jeyosi, a 21 year old student from Tulkarem, confessed in her investigation that she was asked by terrorists of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine from Shechem to smuggle the terrorist who executed the suicide bombing. Daah mentioned that she was asked by a terrorist if she is ready to carry out a suicide bombing of her own. Daah refused to sacrifice herself but she did express readiness to participate in the implementation of a terrorist attack. She also said to the terrorist that she is familiar with the city of Netanya and in particular the coastline.(She would drive there many times before the Intifada). Daah was asked to be escorted to the suicide bomber and tell him to appear as innocent as possible. On day of the attack, Daah entered the city wearing a white tight shirt and tight pants, with sunglasses, carrying a brown purse and a ribbon tied to her hair. When arriving at the entrance to the market, Daah left the taxi and examined the place. Later in which, she requested from the driver that he wait at the entrance of the market. Daah requested from the taxi driver to wait about 5 minutes in order that she will be able to flee with the taxi and only after operating the explosive device that she carried in her purse. Daah returned to the taxi, and after a few minutes there was the explosion.
Arin Achmad, a 20 year old student from Beit Sahour, was supposed to take part in a suicide bombing that was carried out in Rishon Lezion. Together with Isa Badir, a 17 year old terrorist who in the end executed the attack, Arin brought to the area of the planned terrorist attack Ibrahim Sarachana and his wife Irana. The original plan was that Issa would blow himself up adjacent to the tables of backgammon where people sat around. Arin Ahmed would wait on the other side of the road then explode herself with the explosive device on the people who will flee from panic alongside the other side of the street. The explosive devices were placed in the purses which Arin and Isa carried, each weighing about 35 kilograms. The explosive device was detonated by a switch where a stick in the purse was connected to strings. Arin said that when she saw the place where she was to blow herself up, she changed her mind and requested to return back. Before she carried out the terrorist attack she wrote a departing letter to her family, purifying herself and prayed and was photographed by a video camera. In order to present herself as an Israeli in order not to stir any suspicion, she wore tight pants and a stomach bearing shirt.
Amnaa Munah, 26 a Fatah terrorist from Bir Naballah near Ramallah, was involved in a boy's abduction and murder of a compassionate and pure boy on 17.1.01. Muna, a student and reporter introduced the idea to her friend Hassan Alkaidi, a Tanzim terrorist from Ramallah of kidnapping an Israeli after making contact with him via the Internet. Muna made contact with the boy via the internet and persuaded him to meet with her, in which she after brought him to the scene of the murder in Ramallah.
Norah Anam,16, a resident of Tul Karem attempted to carry out a terrorist attack by attempting to stab an IDF soldier at the Taibeh checkpoint near Tulkarem. Norah Anam left her house during the evening hours of the night, without the knowledge of her children, and crossed the checkpoint in order carry out a terrorist attack and stab an IDF soldier. The forces at the checkpoint opened fire in her direction in order to thwart the terrorist attack which ended in the death of the terrorist. The Fatah terrorist organization claimed responsibility of sending Norah to carry out the terrorist attack.
Iman Asah, 27 from Shechem, married and mother of two children placed an explosive device at the Tel Aviv central bus station on 3.8.01. The explosive device was discovered by security forces before it had the chance to explode. Iman consented to the request of her husband who was suspected of collaborating with Israel, to execute a terrorist attack of placing an explosive device in order to "clear his name", as well to improve his family relations. Iman's brother, known as a Fatah terrorist was also behind the terrorist attack attempt. Iman and her husband were arrested by Israeli security forces after attempting to execute the attack.
Avir Chamdan, from Shechem was killed on 31.8.02 while transporting an explosive device while riding in a taxi from Tulkarem to Shechem. The explosion occurred apparently as a result from "a working accident" while preparing the device for the terrorist attack in a restaurant in Hadera. Avir operated via Tanzim terrorists near Shechem. The reason why she wanted to carry out such a terrorist attack was because of her desire to improve the fight of the Palestinian society.
Tahani Titi , 24 a graduate was detained by security forces after she attempted to execute a suicide bombing. In her investigation she said that in September 2001 she met Valid Tzabich, a wanted Tanzim terrorist from Bethlehem who was killed in an initiated activity by security forces. The connection between Tahini and Valid was destined originally for the purpose of marriage but when she understood that he would run after women, Tahiti canceled the marriage proposal and maintained contact with him via telephone only. In June of 2002, Tahiti lost hope of her life at her father's home so she decided to put an end to her life. Valid originally tried to motivate her not to act such and claimed that as long as she wishes to die, it would be preferable to do it for something good. Valid indicated to Tahiti to establish contact with two Tanzim terrorists in Ramallah who will help her execute a suicide bombing. After a number of days, it was discovered that the terrorists from Ramallah were arrested and so the suicide terrorist attack was postponed. At the end of June, Tahini tried to commit suicide by taking pills, but failed. She mentioned that she wanted to end her life not for nationalistic reasons, but on her father's account who repeatedly hit her and did not love her since she started university. She also said that she did not hate Jews and her visits in Israel were all for the good and was impressed by how the Israelis lead free lives. The case of Tahini constitutes a classic example of the cynical abuse by terrorist groups of exploiting the young and innocent who have sensitive marital issues.
Teoraya Chamor, 26, from Jaba was arrested in Beit Dudata in Tulkarem while on her way to execute a suicide bombing in Jerusalem. In her investigation she said that four months before her arrest she knew Monir Chalava who asked her to marry him. Teoraya's family had not allowed her to marry him and as a result she decided to commit suicide in a terrorist attack. Later she made contact with Tanzim terrorists from Jaba and Shechem who prepared her to carry out a terrorist attack. According to the plan she was to travel from Nablus to Tal from there to Kalandia and to east Jerusalem and eventually reach western Jerusalem and blow herself up in a crowded place. In the apartment in Shechem the explosive belt was measured which was used to dress the body and gave her a detailed briefing on how to activate the explosive belt and the explosive device that she would carry. Additionally, her operators decided to equip her with a purse full of nails which weighed 35 kilograms. She learned how to press the button which operated the explosive device. Teoraya regretted carrying out the attack in the last moment and claimed that her operators gave her orders to dress in the modern provocative clothes similar to the Israeli woman among other things, such as scattered hair, heavy makeup and tight pants.
Shafa Alkadsi, a 26 year old Tanzim terrorist from Tulkarem, a divorcee and mother was found on 11.4.02, a day after a withdrawal of IDF forces from Tulkarem (the end of the Defensive Shield Operation), by her parents' apartment when she was supposed to execute the next day a suicide bombing. In her investigation, she confessed that she was supposed to execute a triple suicide bombing together with another young person. Shafa planned to wear on her body an explosive belt under the cover of a maternity dress in order not arouse any suspicion. Together with her, another young person was supposed to wear an explosive belt and an explosive device which he was to conceal at the designated place before the attack. The plan was that Shafa would blow herself up first and later when there will be a cluster of people at the scene, the second bomber will then blow himself up subsequently detonating the explosive device. Shafa even prepared a will and testament declaring her leaving her daughter and family. The arrest of Shafa by Israeli security forces thwarted her attempt to execute the suicide bombing and prevented fatalities and many injured people. Her brother was arrested in February of 2002 on his way to carry out a suicide bombing.
A 15 year old girl from Bethlehem, was arrested by IDF forces as they entered the city during the Defensive Shield Operation. She confessed that she was drafted to the Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, an offshoot of the Fatah terrorist organization by her uncle, a senior Tanzim terrorist and manufacturer of explosive devices from Bethlehem. Additionally, she said that she addressed her uncle and expressed her readiness to execute a suicide bombing in Israel. Her uncle promised her that he will take care of the explosive belt and requested from her to enlist additional girls for suicide bombings. Her younger sister discovered her sister's plan and threatened to tell authorities. The two threatened the younger sister not to tell their father after she would leave school. The sister confessed and told the two that she made contact with Fatah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas terrorists. After a number of days, again her plan to commit suicide was discovered by her uncle, but explained to her that in the aftermath of the United States' proclamation of Tanzim as a terrorist group they will not willingly allow them to involve women in suicide attacks.
Iman Abu- Chutza, 21, resident of Jabalya departed on 25.4.02 to the Rafiah area, where she hid in a building and began crawling into a nearby Israeli settlement in order to blow herself up there. IDF soldiers discovered her and arrested her immediately. Iman joined two other Fatah terrorists from the Gaza Strip to carry out a suicide bombing. These 2 terrorists trained her on how to operate a hand grenade and fire a Kalashnikov rifle. Before her mission, Iman wrote a will and testament requesting forgiveness from her parents.
Lila Bachari, 26, a resident of Shechem was arrested on 1.7.02 after she expressed in February her readiness to execute a suicide bombing. Lila donned the suicide bomber terrorist with an explosive belt around the body of Darin Abu-Isa who executed the suicide bombing at the Macccabim checkpoint on 27.2.02.
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